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September 2026 highlights
Updated October 2026
Compared to August 2026, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.1% (25,625 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 1,700 more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 352,400 jobs).
Pierce County's labor market highlights
- The Pierce County economy is anchored by the Tacoma-Lakewood metro area. Tacoma is the county seat and the county's largest city.
- Regionally significant economic drivers include the Joint Base Lewis-McChord military installation, the healthcare industry and maritime trade and logistics activities centered around the Port of Tacoma.
- The local unemployment rate increased slightly over the past year but has recently showed signs of leveling off.
Contact Pierce County's labor economist
Paul Turek, Central sound region
- Email Paul: paul.turek@esd.wa.gov
- Call Paul: 360-706-3044
Pierce County is part of the Tacoma-Pierce Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Pierce County is known as the Tacoma-Lakewood Metropolitan Division (part of the three-county Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue MSA.)
Employment updates for September 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The September 2026 unemployment rate was 5.1% in Pierce County, 4.3% in Washington state and 4.0% in the United States.
| Measure | September 2026 | August 2026 | September 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 499,802 | 488,813 | 491,652 |
| Employed persons | 474,177 | 463,829 | 466,361 |
| Persons seeking work | 25,625 | 24,984 | 25,291 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Pierce County unemployment rate, January 2024 - September 2026
Weaker hiring conditions increased the area's unemployment rate at the end of 2025 and beginning of 2026 but has since showed signs of stabilizing.
| Year | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4.9% | 4.7% | 4.5% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 5.1% | 5.0% | 4.9% | 4.7% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.1% |
|
4.7% | 4.7% | 4.8% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% | N/A | 5.9% | 5.4% |
|
6.4% | 6.1% | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.1% | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.1% | 5.1% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS). BLS canceled October 2025's unemployment publications.
Key changes in payroll employment
This includes all employees with paid positions tracked in a company’s payroll system. This doesn’t include agriculture jobs or jobs outside of formal payroll such as freelancers, contractors and self-employed individuals. Numbers in this section are estimates generated by a monthly survey.
In September 2026, Pierce County had 352,400 jobs.
Compared with August 2026, September employment increased by 1,700 jobs.
- 1,900 more private jobs.
- 1,800 more private education and health services jobs.
- 700 more leisure and hospitality jobs.
- 200 more professional and business services jobs.
Compared with September 2025, this September’s employment was up by 5,500 (1.6%) jobs.
- 5,000 (1.7%) more private jobs.
- 1,200 (4.7%) more mining, logging and construction jobs.
- 3,200 (4.8%) more private education and health services jobs.
- 1,900 (4.8%) fewer professional and business services jobs.
Employment estimates for Pierce County
See a snapshot of this month's data below. A detailed spreadsheet titled Current employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted is on the source page of our site.
Total jobs
| Industry sector | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Aug. 2026 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 352,400 | 350,700 | 346,900 | 1,700 | 5,500 | 1.6% |
| - Private | 292,700 | 290,800 | 287,700 | 1,900 | 5,000 | 1.7% |
| - Government | 59,700 | 59,900 | 59,200 | -200 | 500 | 0.8% |
Goods-producing jobs
| Industry sector | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Aug. 2026 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goods-producing | 43,100 | 43,400 | 41,600 | -300 | 1,500 | 3.6% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 26,900 | 27,300 | 25,700 | -400 | 1,200 | 4.7% |
| - Manufacturing | 16,200 | 16,100 | 15,900 | 100 | 300 | 1.9% |
Service-providing jobs
| Industry sector | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Aug. 2026 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service-providing | 309,300 | 307,300 | 305,300 | 2,000 | 4,000 | 1.3% |
| - Wholesale trade | 12,900 | 13,000 | 13,500 | -100 | -600 | -4.4% |
| - Retail trade | 35,700 | 35,700 | 35,600 | 0 | 100 | 0.3% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 72,600 | 72,800 | 72,800 | -200 | -200 | -0.3% |
| - Information | 2,600 | 2,600 | 2,400 | 0 | 200 | 8.3% |
| - Financial activities | 13,700 | 13,700 | 14,200 | 0 | -500 | -3.5% |
| - Professional and business services | 37,800 | 37,600 | 39,700 | 200 | -1,900 | -4.8% |
| - Private education and health services | 69,500 | 67,700 | 66,300 | 1,800 | 3,200 | 4.8% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 39,400 | 38,700 | 36,800 | 700 | 2,600 | 7.1% |
| - Other services | 14,000 | 14,300 | 13,900 | -300 | 100 | 0.7% |
| - Government | 59,700 | 59,900 | 59,200 | -200 | 500 | 0.8% |
Note: Data benchmarked through March 2026, updated October 14, 2026. The current month’s data is preliminary. Analysts continue to refine past months as more related information becomes available. Industry columns use North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industry titles. Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Employment details for industries and sectors
This profile section uses the latest Quarterly Census of Employment and Wage (QCEW) annual averages data.
This quarterly census data includes both agricultural and nonagricultural employment and wages for firms, organizations and individuals with employees covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act. Covered employment refers to the total number of employees with this type of coverage.
Top sectors by employment
2025's annual average was 337,052 total covered employees.
- Government - 60,552 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 58,799 jobs.
- Retail trade - 35,659 jobs.
- Accommodation and food services - 29,071 jobs.
- Administrative and waste services - 24,127 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2025’s annual average wage was $73,980 for covered employees.
- Information - $208,381.
- Utilities - $135,088.
- Finance and insurance - $119,292.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services - $101,976.
- Management of companies and enterprises - $97,430.
2025 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Workforce demographics for Pierce County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 739,219 | 66.3% | 5.2% |
| 16 to 19 years | 43,646 | 42.6% | 17.0% |
| 20 to 24 years | 59,993 | 80.9% | 9.5% |
| 25 to 29 years | 68,749 | 85.1% | 5.2% |
| 30 to 34 years | 74,241 | 83.4% | 5.2% |
| 35 to 44 years | 135,123 | 83.6% | 4.2% |
| 45 to 54 years | 110,034 | 82.7% | 3.6% |
| 55 to 59 years | 52,987 | 76.2% | 4.6% |
| 60 to 64 years | 56,910 | 59.1% | 3.0% |
| 65 to 74 years | 84,273 | 25.2% | 3.1% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 493,747 | 64.3% | 4.6% |
| Black or African American alone | 54,800 | 70.4% | 8.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 7,838 | 67.8% | 5.4% |
| Asian alone | 54,583 | 65.8% | 3.9% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 11,620 | 68.4% | 5.6% |
| Some other race alone | 26,676 | 72.8% | 4.2% |
| Two or more races | 89,955 | 72.5% | 6.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 81,158 | 74.2% | 6.4% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 477,279 | 63.9% | 4.6% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 558,037 | 80.1% | 4.8% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 284,216 | 85.2% | 5.1% |
| Female | 273,821 | 74.8% | 4.4% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 99,506 | 73.5% | 4.5% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 23,471 | 71.6% | 6.7% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 20,558 | 62.5% | 5.9% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 55,477 | 78.4% | 3.3% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 45,010 | 43.4% | 24.2% |
| At or above the poverty level | 500,268 | 83.7% | 3.9% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 66,289 | 52.7% | 9.6% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 498,044 | 80.0% | 4.3% |
| Less than high school graduate | 36,478 | 65.3% | 7.4% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 131,246 | 75.7% | 4.9% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 176,109 | 79.7% | 4.2% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 154,211 | 87.3% | 3.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024: ACS 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
Funding
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, expressed or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.